Chapter Thirty Six

Jasper

The phone went again a few minutes after Felix rang and this time it was the call I'd been hoping for,

"Is this Major Whitlock?"

The voice was smooth and feminine but I guessed that was a cover for the mind behind it,

"Yes."

"I understand you wanted to speak to me."

"If you are a representative for the guardian tribes then yes."

"I am. What did you have to say? If it's an apology you are wasting your breath."

"I wanted to explain what happened and see if we couldn't come to some kind of understanding."

"Oh I already understand Major. You killed an entire pack of wolves and a tribal elder."

"It was self-defence."

"Really? Go on."

I explained exactly what had happened and then waited for her reply.

"So you are asking that I forgive all those deaths because your mate wanted her dying father with her?"

"It was his choice. Nothing was done against his will and there was a history between the wolves and Bella."

"Who bit the human?"

"I changed him at his request."

"You'll appreciate I find all this a little difficult to believe."

"Talk to the human involved."

I handed the phone to Charlie who spoke to her for some time explaining exactly what had happened and why. After answering a few questions he passed the phone back to me.

"I have listened to his version of events and it seems to back up your story but he is a cold one now which makes a difference."

"Do you want a war? Neither side will win, it will be the end for both our species."

She laughed bitterly,

"That would be a win for us Major. We are willing to die to protect our kind from yours. I thought you understood that...but I must tell you that the Quileutes have not asked for any help as yet. If they ask us we would of course examine the facts from their perspective but I think perhaps they will be too late. I understand the Volturi are coming for you and your band of followers and I think they mean to destroy you which would save us the job. I will not give you any undertaking for your safety, we do not deal with our enemies normally and I see no reason to do so now but we will wait and watch. Goodbye Major"

Bella

That hadn't gone as well as we hoped, the guardians were only holding back because they hoped the Volturi would do their job for them! I wondered if they knew just how powerful our group was, if not I liked to think they might find out and have second thoughts but is was only a faint possibility.

"What now Jazz?"

"We wait for the Volturi to arrive. They can't beat us so what will they do?"

"You can bet your ass the devious fuckers will come up with something."

Jazz smiled at his friend,

"Lets hope it isn't a good something then Peter."

We watched and waited knowing our wait wouldn't be a long one and feeling apprehensive. I would try to protect us all but I didn't know how long I could keep it up before Jane or Alec got through and then we were dead, all of us. I sat with Jazz savouring the feel of his arms around me while Charlie and Garrett kept watch and Rose and Emmett went upstairs intending to make the most of what might be their last few hours together.

Garrett

The first sign of the Volturi's approach was the mist that suddenly appeared on the horizon and drifted slowly towards the cabin. Although we watched carefully there was no sign of mist anywhere else so they were making a frontal approach only. As it crept ever closer we assembled on the porch of the house, The Major in the centre with Bella to one side and Charlie the other winged by Peter and I. Charlotte watched the left flank for a sneak attack while Rose and Emmett watched the right. No one spoke as we waited tensely to see who our adversaries were. It was sometime before we could see the figures within the mist, Jane and Demetri headed the figures with six guard behind them.

"So, where's Alec, the creepy little fucker? They wouldn't have left him at home."

I looked to our sides with Peters words but there was no sign of any more Volturi for now. Jane stopped a couple of hundred feet from us and threw her hood back, her gaze roaming across us before stopping on Bella and The Major.

"Aro is most displeased with you."

"Really? Why exactly?"

Bella's voice was loud and commanding, she didn't fear any of them.

"You destroyed a guardian tribe, murdered a tribal elder."

"Before they killed us...yes."

"Why is immaterial, the fact is that you have left the Volturi open to attack by your actions. Someone must pay for that."

Bella

I was watching Demetri who seemed uncomfortable with Felix at his side, was he aware that his companion was less than one hundred per cent faithful to the Volturi? As I watched I saw Felix eyes flicker to the right quite deliberately twice, there was something coming from that side and my money was on Alec so I wrapped us all in my shield pulling it tightly round to cover everyone from head to toe. The next time I looked to that side I could see the black tendrils of his gift floating closer as Jane spoke again,

"Aro wants you to accompany us to Volterra to answer for your actions."

"I don't think we'll take him up on his offer but he's welcome to visit us, it would be safer all round I think."

Jane frowned knowing she was hopeless against me.

"It would be better if you came, he doesn't like being snubbed."

"Could I say something?"

Charlie stepped forward and Jane's cold eyes swivelled to look at him,

"Who are you?"

"I'm the one whose transformation started all this trouble. Jasper changed me at my request and the wolves were killed to protect me and the rest of our party. They started the fight not us."

"I don't think it matters who started it, the fact remains that this could start a war with the guardian tribes."

"Don't you think you could win Jane?"

She looked back at me and smiled sweetly,

"The fight might be fun but the humans would notice if all the Native American tribes disappeared. We would have to kill all of them to avoid repercussions."

"Wholesale slaughter sounds a little drastic to me"

She sighed looking at Charlie once more,

"Your thoughts on the matter are duly noted. So Major?"

Charlie

All the time Jane was talking I could feel an itch inside my skull, like ants crawling across my brain and my head started to ache as pressure built up. I had no idea what was going on, just that I didn't like it. I could feel my temper rising, aggravated by the arrogant young kid standing in front of us. I noticed Bella shooting glances to the side but I couldn't see what was worrying her. As Jane took a step closer the ache in my head intensified and I closed my eyes concentrating on the itch. There was a gasp and opening them again I saw a flicker of flame running around in a circle seeking a way out. The flame was trapped within Bella's shield.

"Drop it Bella, just for a second"

She looked at Jasper and did as he bid and as the shield went down the flame shot straight at the Volturi, burning a path through them to disappear in the distance still glowing. Jane had a hole burned straight through her torso as did the guard behind her and I wondered what the hell had just happened when I realized my right hand was stretched out towards her. Had I done this? If so how?"